Shoe-lace cutter



S. D. NICHOLS.

SHOE LACE CUTTER.

APPLICATION man SEPT-24.1918.

Patented Oct. 21,1919.

WITNESSES a /Mp THE coLuMmA PLANOGRAPH co., \VASIHNGTON. a c

SAMUEL I). NICHOLS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SHOE-LACE CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed September 24, 1918. Serial No. 255,457.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. NionoLs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, Milwaukee county, Viscousin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace Cutters, of which the -following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a tool for cutting shoe laces or the tether with which shoes are laced while in the process of manufacture.

In the manufacture of shoes it is customary to partially lace the shoe with an ordinary string known as a tether. When the work is finished the tether is removed by cutting away with an ordinary knife, and it frequently happens that the point of the sharp knife blade will be pressed too deep or carried too far so as to cut the leather.

The present invention provides a knife with a bent shank extending to a point nearly in line with the blade and in advance of the cutting point, and adapted to bear on the shoe in advance of the blade to form a guard limiting the angle of the blade with respect to the shoe and preventing the blade cutting into the leather.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the shoe lace cutter as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in different views:

Figure 1 is a side View of a shoe lace cutter constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig, 2 is a view thereof showing its relation to the shoe in the operation of cutting the tether; and,

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the shoe with the knife blade sectioned and with the ban dle shown in dotted lines.

In these drawings 10 indicates a handle with a shank 11 projecting therefrom and bent obliquely. At its upper end the shank carries a hook-like blade 12 sharpened to a knife edge at its inner edge and terminating with a rounded bearing surface 13 at the back of its cutting point.

In practice the cutter is drawn down the center of the shoe 15 with the rounded surface 13 bearingon the shoe tongue 16 so that the cutting edge 12 cuts the cross lac ingof the tether 17, a single stroke of the tool being sufficient for the purpose as the angular position of the cutting blade causes it to find its way beneath each crossing of the tether. The rounded bearing surface 141 at the oblique bend of the shank by engaging the shoe in advance of the cutter blade forms a guard limiting the angular position of the cutter blade with respect to the shoe and so prevents the blade point from engaging the leather in such a manner as to injure it. The tool may ride on the leather on one or both of the rounded bearing surfaces 13 and 1 1 but the point of the knife blade is above the line connecting these surfaces and consequently is not capable of cutting into the leather no matter how carelessly the tool is handled.

The use of this tool quickly accomplishes the work of cutting away the tether with a single stroke and does not require the exercise of great care to avoid the cutting of the vamp by too long a stroke as with the ordinary knife used for the purpose.

The invention is not limited to use by shoe factories but is well adapted for use by shoe shining stands for removing old shoe laces.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A shoe lace cutter comprising a handle, a shank projecting therefrom and curved with respect thereto to form a rounded bearing surface-adjacent the handle, said shank having a hook-like blade at its end with a sharpened inner edge terminating in a cutting point having a rounded bearing surface at the back of said point, said bearing surfaces adapted to engage curved tongue and vamp portions of a shoe to maintain the point of the blade above the same in lacing cutting position.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL D. NICHOLS.

WVitnesses:

R. S. C. CALDWELL, H. D. CHASE,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

